Annual Report | 2013 - Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture

35 Years
of Service to
Survivors of Torture
Annual Report
2013
2
MANDATE
The Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT) aids survivors in overcoming
the lasting effects of torture and war.
In partnership with the community, the
Centre supports survivors in the process
of successful integration into Canadian
society, works for their protection and integrity, and raises awareness of the continuing effects of torture and war on survivors and their families.
The CCVT gives hope after the horror
3
Table of Contents
A Message from the Chair of the Board & Executive Director
5
Program Manager Report
6
Mental Health Program Report
8
Settlement Program Report
10
Child and Youth Program Report
12
Volunteer Program Report
16
Language Instruction and Skills Training Report
18
CCVT in Pictures
21
Financial Report
24
Legal Committee Report
26
Public Education Committee Report
28
International Committee Report
30
Health Committee Report
32
Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership Report
34
Board of Directors
36
Legal Network Members
39
Health Network Members
40
Collaborating Organizations
41
CCVT Staff
43
CCVT Survivors
46
CCVT Statistics
48
Individual Donors
52
CCVT Volunteers
53
Our Supporters and Patrons
54
Source of Funds and Donor Organizations
55
Former Award Recipients
56
CCVT Programs
57
Contact Us
58
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: CCVT Survivors
46 Figure 5: Marital Status
49
Figure 2: Referral Sources
50
Figure 3: Age
48 Figure 6: Client Education
48 Figure 7: Top Languages
Figure 4: Gender
49 Figure 8: Top 10 Countries
51
Figure 9: Internal Referrals
51
50
4
Message from the
Chair of the Board of Directors & Executive Director
Mohan Doss
Mulugeta Abai
Chair of the Board
Executive Director
The practice of torture causes inconceivable pain and hardship. From our 35 years of service to survivors of torture
and their families, we have come to know that client centred, holistic, integrated ,sensitive, appropriate and
community based rehabilitation program enables survivors to effectively deal with their traumatic experiences and
facilitate the move from victim to active community members.
The past year was a year of renewed momentum for CCVT. Being a community –based organization permits us to
work with sister organizations to provide services that address the multiple effects and complex needs of survivors
of torture and war. Our community orientation has enabled us to develop and refine an interdisciplinary approach
where medical, legal and social care professionals can work together to provided support for highly vulnerable
survivors from 96 countries that made the decision to make Canada their home.
During the past 12 months CCVT has assisted 1775 clients, by providing a range of therapeutic services. We have
collaborated with local, national and international agencies to strengthen the global human rights movement and to
hold governments accountable to international human rights treaties and conventions.
In addition to direct services, we have pursued partnerships with Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital,
and Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Faculty of Social Work, and worked with members of our health
and legal networks to pull resources and expertise to meet the increasing needs of survivors of torture and their
families.
CCVT believes and recognizes the importance of collaborations and partnerships to achieve systemic changes that
facilitate the formation of supportive networks to assist survivors of torture lead a dignified and productive in the
new environment.
CCVT has also actively participated in the Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership, Toronto Newcomer
Leadership Table and as a lead agency in Settlement, Health and Mental Health, Newcomer Youth working groups.
The Centre has been able to further consolidate its Scarborough and Victoria Hub satellite offices in an underserviced area identified as priority neighborhood by the United Way of Greater Toronto.
All the achievements in this report were only made possible with the generous support from Citizenship and
Immigration Canada, The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, United Way of Greater Toronto, The
City of Toronto, The United Nations, TELUS Canada and our thousands of donors. Nor would the work have been
possible without the dedication and unwavering commitment of the Center’s staff, volunteers and guidance from the
board of directors, to whom we are grateful.
5
Program Manager’s Report
It has been a busy year and the highlights in this report reflect in essence the achievements
of this year. We have completed the fourth year of our strategic planning and work hard
with the entire CCVT team including board, staff, volunteers, networks as well as partners
and associates to advance in every goal included in the original plan:
Goal # 1:
Dr. Teresa Dremetsikas
Program Manager
Demonstrate and continually improve and promote the effectiveness of
CCVT’s service delivery model and its ability to anticipate and respond to relevant local,
national and international issues and trends
To achieve this goal several steps have been taken the following short list are only some examples:

Needs assessment survey was applied to 189 clients to identify new trends in needs as well as gaps in services

A new client advisory committee was formed this year and they met 3 times to discuss the relevance of the
services provided at CCVT.

The outputs and outcomes set in the action plan at the beginning of the year have been followed closely to ensure
that the programs achievements are on target.
Goal # 2: Building CCVT’s capacity and leadership role as an information, resource and training resource.
Tasks carried out this year to full fill this goal include:
Professional Development Opportunities for staff:

Presentations to address all the implications for our clients of the new legislation under Bill C-31

Presentation about the implementation of the legislation of the disability Act

Training on issues regarding human trafficking
Local Presentations done by CCVT have included among other during the Fiscal year 2012-2013 :

CCVT Presentation for Post Graduate Residents Year 1 CAMH

CCVT Presentation at the Francophone Centre for clinical staff

Meeting with COSTI manager of settlement services and front line staff

Presentation at The Canada and Refugee Resettlement International Conference in Vancouver

CCVT organized a certificate course addressing the needs of survivors of torture and war and outlining
successful interventions. The course was entitled: `Hope after the Horror`` and it consisted of 9 sessions delivered
by professionals in the field of Mental Health as well as one lawyer

CCVT organized a panel of professionals and clients on “Journey of Hope” on June 26 2012

CCVT also was a guest speaker at the Mental Health Forum organized by South LIP in March 2013 to share
resources within organizations dealing with Newcomers

CCVT is one of the three organizations portrayed in an educational video for the community put together by the
refugee sponsorship program of the Catholic Cross Cultural Centre.
6
Goal # 3: Building partnership locally, regionally and nationally for service delivery, research public education
and training.

CCVT entered in a partnership with Fred Victor to ensure housing for homeless and most particularly to
deliver services for clients once Fred Victor takes possession of a number of units at the buildings that will
host the athletes during the PanAm games in 2014.

CCVT continues to deliver services at Victoria Hub location and will try to expand the scope and amount of
services delivered at that location

CCVT has successfully continued its partnership with Mount Sinai and with other individual doctors who
deliver vital health services for our clients; From January 2012 to December CCVT provides practicum
opportunities for students of several educational institutions: U of T Faculty of Social Work and Faculty of
Medicine, York University Faculty of Social Work, University of Windsor, VIA University , Faculty of
Social Work in Denmark.

The Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) program continue to be very active under the new structure and
CCVT is still one of the 3 leading organizations in the South Toronto in collaboration with St. Stephens’s
Community Centre and Woodgreen Community Centre.
Goal # 4: Build the internal capacity to support these strategic directions.

The process is in motion to rebrand the organization and a consultant has already finalized some promising
options which are being considered at the board level.

Several funding proposals have been submitted including proposals to our main funders and other options are
also being explored. The annual fundraising dinner: “The First Light” continues to be a well-attended and
liked event
First Light Celebration 2012
Student placement from Japan Global Collaboration
Centre at Osaka University : Masato Minami on his
last day after receiving a certificate from CCVT staff
for his project featuring CCVT services in a power
point presentation
The CCVT team is proud to have completed a year of productive work assisting survivors of torture and war in
their journey to rehabilitation and integration into Canadian society.
7
Mental Health Program Report
The Partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital, Sherbourne Clinic, Regent Park, East End Community Health Centres and
with individual doctors, who are members of CCVT’s network, has allowed access to health and particularly mental
health services for many CCVT clients.
The mental Health program at CCVT includes support groups based on language, gender and age, which are crucial for
many new comers to begin establishing links and creating networks of support to begin the integration process. During
the past year the following groups were organized for women and seniors from different ethnic backgrounds: Sri
Lanka, Ethiopia and Eritrea and Spanish speaking countries.
The provision of counseling sessions and case management of clients is another aspect of the mental Health program,
the collaborating physicians have further enriched the quality of health services. We now provide documentation and
treatment on site.
Crisis Intervention services have been provided by the team of counselors in collaboration with the attending physicians
at the centre.
The following tables outline the number of such crucial services.
TOTAL CLIENTS BY GENDER AND AGE CATEGORY
Adult
Senior
Youth/Child*
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
94
136
1
4
Total
Female
Male
153
17
99
HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Total number of clients that received services
252
Total services provided including : psychiatric assessments, support letters or medical forms, referrals, and follow up visits
754
8
Health/Mental Health Services
CLIENTS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
# OF CLIENTS
COUNTRY
COUNTRY
14
Afghanistan
Lebanon
3
Albania
Libya
1
Argentina
Mexico
1
Bahrain
Namibia
6
Bangladesh
Nicaragua
1
Botswana
Nigeria
3
Burundi
Pakistan
3
Cameroon
Qatar
27
Colombia
Russia
11
Congo
Rwanda
1
Costa Rica
Sierra Leone
2
Croatia
Somalia
1
Cuba
Sri Lanka
11
Eritrea
St. Lucia
8
Ethiopia
St. Vincent
3
Gambia
Sudan
1
Ghana
Syria
4
Guinea
Tunisia
2
Honduras
Turkey
3
Hungary
Turkmenistan
25
Iran
Uganda
15
Iraq
Zimbabwe
2
Ivory Coast
Zambia
3
Jamaica
5
Kenya
1
Kosovo
TOTAL
# OF CLIENTS
2
1
6
3
2
24
6
1
4
6
3
9
10
3
2
1
1
1
3
1
4
1
1
252
TOP 10 COUNTRIES TOP 10 LANGUAGES
Afghanistan
Dari
Colombia
Spanish
Congo
French & Lingala
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Iran
Iraq
Nigeria
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Tigrinya
Amharic
Farsi
Arabic
English
Somali
Tamil
9
Settlement Program Report
Ermelina Balla
Settlement program provides assistance and extensive support to survivors of
torture and/or war and their family members on arrival and throughout the
settlement in their new communities. The overarching objectives of the program
are to provide tailored settlement support, to equip clients with the skills and
knowledge they will need to independently access services beyond the initial
settlement period, and to lay the foundations for their participation and
contribution in the social and economic life of Canada. This is achieved through
the provision of flexible, client centred services, appropriate community and
mainstream social service referrals and settlement focused group information
sessions.
Thilaga Jeganathan
Manager, Settlement
Services
Settlement Coordinator
CCVT’s settlement program offers orientation, information, supportive and
Scarborough
trauma counselling, case management, referral, accompaniment, and life skills
and educational services, workshops and group activities on settlement related
issues and liaison with volunteers to break isolation and facilitate culturally sensitive communication as well as
encourage cross-cultural understanding. Our comprehensive and outcomes focused Settlement Program uses a
family-focused, holistic, case management approach to ensure that newcomer families are well-supported in their
settlement and integration. These services have helped our clients feel supported, validated and re-empowered.
During 2012 – 2013 CCVT’s trauma and settlement counsellors assisted and provided settlement services in
downtown office, Scarborough branch and Victoria Hub to a total of 1775 clients from 96 countries. Clients are
from a variety of backgrounds and a variety of ages. 70% of clients we have served are adults, 16% are youth, 9%
of them are children and only 5% are seniors. 1775 were individually assessed and had their settlement and mental
health needs identified. This individualized support ensured that clients were able to attain timely services that meet
their settlement needs, and were also able to attain referrals to both in-house and outside programs and services to
address their many concerns.
Settlement trauma counsellors maintained strong relationships with various organisations and adhered to
referral guidelines for best practice service delivery. Due to the complex nature of clients’ needs, referrals were
made to a wide variety of organisations. Likewise, CCVT provides many programs which were of assistance to our
clients. These internal referrals were to programs such as language and skills training program, health/mental health
services, homework club, mutual support groups, etc.
During this period settlement program delivered 135 information sessions with 1126 clients attending them.
Information sessions according to the clients’ needs covered topics such as public health, family reunification,
employment and social services, legal aid offices, settlement services within neighborhoods and clients' catchment
areas. The results are that clients are more knowledgeable about the services and programs available to them in
Toronto, in addition to having an increased capacity to advocate for themselves when trying to access these
services.
As part of support services, mutual support groups were designed for women and seniors to promote their wellbeing through social, economic and cultural integration into Canadian society. This year more than 250 participants
have attended, Somali women support group, Ethiopian/Eritrean women support group, French speaking women
support group, Spanish speaking women support group and Seniors support group. They have shared experiences
and emotional breakthroughs that have led to the creation of friendships, bonds, wellness and an enhanced quality
of life amongst themselves. These support groups have truly generated healing through solidarity of participants.
CCVT staff is trained in trauma and vicarious trauma. Training is provided on a regular basis in order to
increase the effectiveness in service provision. Through well trained multilingual staff we were able to deliver
settlement services effectively to meet clients’ needs in a timely manner and to ensure that they have accurate
information needed to make informed settlement decisions. Settlement and trauma counsellors also perform a great
deal of advocacy on behalf of clients, with independence and settlement being the ultimate goal.
10
Settlement Program Report
(cont’d)
Highlights of the Branch Offices:
The CCVT Scarborough branch has been growing rapidly with the support of the staff team, the management
and the dedicated volunteers with a remarkable increase in clientele. It is evident that the opening of the branch
in Scarborough serves its purpose successfully by providing the settlement services and the trauma counseling
which is unique to CCVT only to the survivors of torture and war who reside in the priority neighbourhood.
CCVT also has the satellite office in operation since 2010 at the VICTORIA HUB and has been actively
involved in serving the local community who are survivors of torture and war.
Both offices are successfully running support group sessions for Tamil and Arabic speaking adults and
seniors. Some initiatives such as the Citizenship preparatory classes and the Income Tax clinic, with the support
of the Revenue Canada and CCVT volunteers, has been successfully conducted.
Clients participating in a workshop about
Financing in Downtown Office.
Clients attending Citizenship Class in
Scarborough Office
11
Child and Youth Program Report
CCVT’s Child and Youth program provides holistic support to
children, youth and families, who are survivors of torture and/or war.
From April 2012 to March 2013, the CCVT registered 153 new children
and 286 new youth clients.
Key programs and services:
Individual Mental Health and Settlement Counseling
Sidonia Couto
Child & Youth Coordinator/Counsellor
Downtown
The child and youth program provided individualized client-centered
mental health and settlement assistance to address the unique needs of
families, children and youth survivors. These clients received support in
many facets of their lives, including assessments, trauma counseling,
referrals to medical and psychiatric doctors for documentation and
treatment, and assistance navigating systems of immigration, housing,
health, education, employment, social services, etc. In addition, the
downtown child and youth program specifically offered substantial
support to many unaccompanied youth clients, and provided counseling
until 6.30pm, two days a week, to provide accessible service to youth who
were in school during the day.
Mbalu Wembo
Child & Youth Coordinator/Counsellor
Scarborough
Homework Club
Homework club support was provided three days a week for children and youth clients, ranging from grade 1-9 at the
downtown office, and four days a week for children and youth from grades 1 to 12, at the Scarborough office. At both
locations, children and youth received after school support, in order to assist them in completing their school assignments.
25 children attended sessions at the downtown site and 30 students at the Scarborough office. Staff and volunteer tutors
provided academic assistance in diverse subjects such as English, Math, Science, History, Geography, and Social Science.
Throughout
the
program,
children gained skills and
knowledge relevant to their
academic success. In addition
to receiving academic support,
the
children
received
opportunities
to
do
presentations for their peers on
various topics such as Bullying,
Black
History
Month,
Halloween, and Valentine’s
Day. At the Scarborough office,
in order to continue building
youth
capacity
and
empowerment, CCVT’s high
school students who were
previously homework club
participants, came back to tutor
the
younger
children
throughout the school year. The
younger
children
greatly
enjoyed seeing the older youth
volunteering and one child mentioned “I can’t wait to be in high school so that I can volunteer too”. Other feedback from
children included:
“I learned to be more helpful and to do my work on time”
“Usually when I am at school, I will be worried about finishing my homework and needing help, but afterwards I
remember that I have homework club to help!”
To ensure that the child and youth program was flexible and met the academic and social needs of the youth, one to
one tutoring was also provided for youth during after homework club hours and on weekends, by CCVT volunteer tutors.
12
Parents/guardians also reported that their children and families benefitted from receiving homework assistance, and that the
program offered a necessary support for them, given their own inability to help their children with their school work, due to
language and literacy barriers . Some feedback from parents/guardians included:
“My children don’t worry about homework, because they know they can get help at homework club if they don’t understand it”
“I’m happy they have this program to go to because it is difficult for me to help my kids with their homework”\.
Piano Lessons
This past year, 35 piano lesson sessions were held at the downtown CCVT site. 9 children received piano lessons from two
dedicated volunteers. These musical lessons were highly enjoyed by the participants. The children looked forward to lessons, and
the volunteer teachers reported that the children showed considerable improvement in their musical skills. Many of the children’s
parents also conveyed appreciation for the program, and were impressed with the musical knowledge their children had acquired.
3rd Youth Roundtable
Ukulele Lessons
Youth Activities: Skating
13
Child and Youth Program Report
(cont’d)
Ukulele Lessons
In the Fall of 2012, the downtown CCVT site provided hourly sessions of ukulele lessons to children and youth clients
for 8 weeks. Approximately 12-15 children attended each session. The children expressed that they felt the ukulele class
was a fun place for them to go, where they could sing and learn to play songs on the new instrument. The children also
noted that they enjoyed the genres of music taught by the instructor to whom they expressed gratitude. Some of the
comments provided by children included:
“It was fun, and I liked the fact that we learned how to play
mainstream music and not unknown music”.
Art Club
Starting in January 2013, the downtown CCVT site provided an
hourly Art Club, for children and youth clients, one day a week.
Approximately 12 participants attended the program on a weekly
basis. The children expressed their contentment in being able to learn
about different art forms, such as clay modeling, using pastels, art
pencils, paint, etc. The children made wonderful creations, including
colorful t-shirts, and beautiful paintings of flowers, which are now
being showcased on CCVT premises to help beautify the space.
A child works on her painting at the Art Club.
Girlz Club: Newcomer Youth Female Group
CCVT’s program for newcomer female youth, ages 14-24, began in August 2012, and ran on a bi-weekly basis. It
addressed the social, emotional, and settlement needs of young female survivors, and provided a safe and welcoming space
where young women could congregate and support one another, engage in stress-relieving recreational activities, while also
learning new skills and information that would assist their integration into Canadian society. 26 young women were
registered in the program, with approximately 10 young women attending each session. Throughout the program, the young
women participated in workshops about a variety of topics including education (process of applying to post-secondary
school, OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, etc), employment (creating resumes, job searching, preparing for interviews,
employment rights), driving in Ontario, budgeting, sexual health, healthy relationships, and housing. The young women
also participated in activities such as dance, yoga, and enjoyed recreational outings to skating rinks, bowling alleys, sports
games, movie theatres, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Feedback provided by the young women included:
“I liked knowing that you’re home, and coming to see others, and having a conversation”
“Everything in the program was important for young people”
Boyz Club: Newcomer Youth Male Group
In January 2013, CCVT launched the Male Youth Program titled “Boyz Club” , for male youth clients ages 14-24,
which ran on a bi-weekly basis at CCVT’s downtown site. The group introduced CCVT’s male youth clients to knowledge
and tools which can assist them in navigating Canadian society, and becoming better integrated into its socioeconomic life.
The support group included information sessions/workshops and opportunities for recreational and social activities. 21
young men were registered in the program, with approximately 10 young men attending each session. Throughout the
program, the young men participated in workshops about a variety of topics including education, employment (creating
resumes and cover letters), driving in Ontario, impaired driving, transportation, Canadian law and justice, and policing in
Canada. The young men also participated in activities such as swimming, soccer, basketball and enjoyed recreational
outings to bowling alleys and movie theatres. Feedback provided by the young men included:
“It was fun and informative. It taught me how to find a job.”
“It was a very fun and nice program. I liked it. Keep it up!”
March Break Activities
March Break 2012 was filled with fun activities for both children and youth at the Scarborough office. Children
enjoyed pajamas day, where they also received a deliciously healthy breakfast of pancakes, fruits and scrambled eggs. The
14
Child and Youth Program Report
(cont’d)
Summer Quest
Summer Quest 2012 was composed of two major
activities: Summer Quest Field trips and a 7 week day
program, which ran in partnership with the Toronto District
School Board “Focus on Youth” Program, at the
Scarborough office. 30 youth and 23 children from the
downtown site and 37 children and 20 youth from the
Scarborough office participated in the summer field trips.
The youth enjoyed trips to the movies, to the Toronto
Centre Island, canoeing at Harbourfront, and bowling. This
allowed for the youth to reduce their social isolation,
practice their English, make new friends, and have
newfound experiences in the City of Toronto. The children
attended trips to the Science Centre, to the Toronto Centre
Island, to the Toronto Zoo, and went canoeing at
Youth participating in a fundraising car wash during
Harbourfront. These trips were educational, and these
Summer Quest activities.
activities also help to foster rapport and trust between the
child and youth counselors and the clients.
The summer quest day program in partnership with the
TDSB proved again to be quite successful with 42 children and youth participating. Both children and youth were engaged
in various physical and recreational activities at Winston Churchill School, for 7 weeks. 12 youth participated as mentors
and gained leadership and conflict management skills by organizing all the summer quest day program activities. All youth
mentors completed their 40 hours of community service school requirement. To end the Summer Quest activities, both
downtown and Scarborough youth joined together for a car wash fundraising event, with the support of the Eglinton East
Kennedy youth network, at the Jack Goodlad community center.
Information/Orientation Sessions
The children and youth program also provided informative workshop sessions for newcomer children, youth and
families on a variety of topics, including international children’s day, anti-bullying awareness, Halloween safety, healthy
eating and Canada’s Food guide, volunteering, financing post-secondary school, scholarships & OSAP, employment
interview skills, cover letter writing, employment rights, and a First AID/CPR training. Children and youth who attended
the summer day program also received information sessions about fair play, bullying, safety and teamwork, which were
conducted to ensure the children were safe and had an enjoyable day program.
Outreach and Public Education
The child and youth program continues to maintain its collaborative relationship with other community organizations,
including shelters, schools, and social service agencies via in-person, phone and e-mail outreach. Contact is regularly made
to other youth-serving agencies, including AYCE youth employment, Greenwood Secondary School, Covenant House,
Children’s Aid Society, YMCA, COSTI Reception Centre, and many other organizations. The children and youth program
also continues to provide public education presentations to other organizations, workers, and community members. This
past year, the downtown child and youth counselor provided presentations to members of the Mennonite Coalition for
Refugee Support, to staff from Community Care Access Centre, to graduate students at the University of Toronto’s Faculty
of Social Work, to secondary students at Cawthra Park Secondary School, and to elementary school students at James
Culnan Catholic School and Centennial Sr Public School. CCVT Scarborough also collaborated with RH King Academy to
provide 20 hours of leadership practicum for two high school students, and did a presentation at Scarborough Alternative
Studies. These presentations bring attention to how torture and/or war affect children and youth, and also increase the
capacity of the community to recognize and address the needs of survivors.
15
Volunteer Program Report
The goals of the Volunteer Program are:



Huda Bukhari
Manager, Volunteer
Services

to assist survivors in making the transition from victims to active
community members;
to raise awareness of torture and war among the general public;
to provide an effective means of cultural exchange in a non-threatening
environment and in an atmosphere of trust and friendship, and
to foster a strong community that voices against the practice of torture.
CCVT attracts a wide range of community members: Newcomers and
Canadian-born alike, the youngest is 16 years old, the oldest is in her early
eighties, there more women than men, representing over 40 languages, and
representing many professions: psychiatrists, medical students, counsellors,
community and social workers, university students, retired teachers, nurses,
legal students and lawyers, retail sales people, sales managers, non-profit
workers, writers, artists, musicians, civil servants, engineers, relief workers,
university professors, activists, human rights workers, flight attendants, child
care workers, small business owners, filmmakers, Internet and computer
programmers, hospital administrators and paralegals, to name a few.
Juliette Ntege
Volunteer Coordinator
Scarborough
3rd Roundtable Youth Sessions
Volunteer
Hours
18
Befriending Hours
3120
Boyz Club Facilitation
27
CCR Consultation Support
200
CCVT Connections - Newsletter
120
The 2013 fiscal year saw an addition of 243 new volunteers who have
provided 29,312 hours of assistance to CCVT survivors. The are made up of
predominately females; most of the new volunteers found CCVT online
(39%) with 20% being referred by either family of friends followed by 13%
by other volunteers, many of whom are children of registered volunteers.
Citizenship Class Facilitation
156
Computer training
48
Conversation Cirlces
156
ESL/LINC Assistance
3276
First Light Editing
30
The majority of requests to the program came for interpreters who have
provided over 9000 hours of interpreting and escorting in the Albanian,
Amharic, Arabic, Creole, Dari, Farsi, French, Korean, Somali, Swahili,
Russian and Tamil languages among many others. The Homework
Assistance program also reaped many hours of service by the volunteers
followed by the one-on-one tutorials predominantly for the English
language.
Food Drive Assistance
52
Gift wrapping
24
Girlz Club Facilitation/Mentoring
18
Homework Club Assistance
6552
Interpreters, Translators & Escorts
Int'l Day in Support of Victims of
Torture
9048
Music Program Facilitation
78
Office Support
1664
One-on-one tutorials
4160
Presenter: Information Session
20
Spotlight Event
78
Tax Clinic Assistance
324
Volunteer Advisory Committee
60
World Refugee Day Attendance
38
Yoga Facilitation
24
TOTAL HOURS
29, 312
Other
Volunteer
13%
School
7%
Center for
Refugee
2%
Teachers
1%
REFERRAL SOURCE
CCVT Staff
8%
Friend/Fami
ly
20%
Other
10%
Online
39%
GENDER
Volunteer Placement
21
M
18%
F
82%
16
Volunteer Program Report
(cont’d)
The Benefits and Challenges of Volunteering Workshop
Diversity is
our Strength
Workshop
Interpreting Workshop
Volunteers performing at the June 26 International Day in
Support of Victims of Torture Celebrations
Volunteers assisting at the June 20th World
Refugee Day Celebrations
Volunteers at ukulele classes
17
Language Instruction and
Skills Training Report
For the past 23 years, CCVT’s specialized Language and Skills Development Program has been a
key component in the recovery and successful rehabilitation of survivors of torture and organized
violence. It is an organic part of CCVT’s goal to offer survivors the will to live. In collaboration
with the many other services at CCVT and in partnership with the community, the English as a
Second Language and Skills Training program enables and supports survivors in the process of
successful integration into Canadian society and promotes hope after the horror.
The program aims at assisting survivors of torture and war trauma to learn language tools in
developing the communications skills needed in achieving their recovery goals and start their
journey to integrate into Canadian Society. To this end, our CCVT Language and Skills Training
Program, working in conjunction with the TDSB ESL classes and other CCVT services at CCVT,
including settlement, computer and volunteer program provides a supportive learning environment
and delivery approach to maximize the learning experience of our students to achieve utmost quality
and outcomes.
Abdul Abubaker
Language and
Skills Development
A key objective of the program is also to reduce barriers to the needs of survivors of torture and war
trauma students in gaining acquisition to English language learning by flexibly designed, high
quality program with alternative schedules and supportive learning environments.
Nurturing
The Language and Skills Training courses at CCVT are specifically adapted to the learning abilities and needs of our learners and
designed to language proficiency and skills development of survivors. It nurtures the individual and caters to the needs of adult
learners who suffer from debilitating imprints that make the learning process harder and strenuous. Our teachers are highly
qualified and specially trained and our curriculum is adapted to help students acquire skills related to their immediate and long
term life goals. The classroom atmosphere and supportive environment provide clients with encouragement, hope, community,
social context and the help they need to progress with their language and social skills.
Experiencing torture, war and other forms of organized violence results in isolation and stress to our
survivors of torture. CCVT has met the challenge of teaching English as a Second Language, Skills
Training and resettlement issues through the years by fostering and addressing the needs of our
clients by creating a “safe haven”, where clients are made welcome and by creating an environment
or space where virtually all specialized services are found in one organization.
Fostering interpersonal Connections
Elena Solokhina
A special feature of CCVT’s Language and Skills Training Program is fostering interpersonal ties as
an objective in itself and as a mediating link between survivors and the host community. Clients
attend LINC, ESL and Skills Training programs not only to learn the language and skills, but to
make friends , network, socialize and be among others who have come from and experienced
similar traumatic situations. They come to the “family” and where they know they are accepted.
This is true, as many of our ESL clients are seniors who are able to socialize through interacting
with the other students in the classrooms. This interaction plays into breaking their isolation and
fosters an interaction with our younger clients.
Computer Instructor
CCVT language Program Expertise
We are constantly seeking for ways to improve our programs through collaborative work with instructors, counselors and CCVT
computer and secretarial program, CCVT volunteers and partner agencies in Europe. The CCVT language program has
accumulated significant expertise in delivering services to traumatized immigrant and refugee learners, and in providing workshops
and seminars for ESL and educational professionals. CCVT has already developed its reputation as an active and leading
organization that can provide curriculum and delivery practice as well as professional insight into newcomer and refugee learner
issues.
18
Language and Skills Training Report
(cont’d)
The Classroom
Involvement in Language and Skills Training activities gives our clients the opportunity to access our trained settlement staff,
which provide other settlement needs and services which would otherwise be beyond their reach. You can see the effort put into
language instruction at CCVT. It is not an ordinary class or learning environment but a unique and specialized classroom for
people who are torture survivors and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Class levels available to our clients range from low beginner to advanced. Every year CCVT provides language and skills
training for approximately 300 clients from 79 countries. Clients stay with our English language Programs for an average of 3 to
18 months, moving through language proficiency levels at their own pace. Classes are provided solely on CCVT premises
downtown and in Scarborough so that clients and teaching staff will have access to counselors and other CCCVT services when
emotional or other needs arise for themselves and their families.
Tutoring, Conversation Circles, Citizenship Class
In cooperation with the volunteer program we have enhanced our English tutoring program to include a significant number of
our students. We have also introduced a Citizenship Class to assist our students in preparing for citizenship tests and conversation
circles -facilitated by volunteers to assist low beginner and intermediate level students in their communication skills. We have
increased the number and frequency of volunteer teaching assistants in class to provide more opportunities for our students to
interact with other Canadians in English. We now also have a successful Computer Aided English Language Instruction that
benefits our students tremendously.
Success and Recovery
The CCVT language and skills training program continues to be a critical component of a successful recovery program for
our clients. It is also the first point of contact with their new home in Canada for our clients. The English and Skills Training
program at CCVT has become a source of strength and support that helps our clients resume their lives with independence,
confidence and dignity.
Introduction to Office Administration and Computer Training Program 2012-2013
Employment Services and Skills Training Program
This program helps our clients to be informed and equipped with the new technology on their journey to a successful employment.
The program includes:
1. Employment Workshop – interactive information and training sessions once a month on employment-related topics;
2. Basic Computer Skills Course;
3. Secretarial Course;
One-on-one employment counseling.
Introduction to Office Administration and Basic Computer Courses

Total students enrolled in computer programs:
Enrolled: 62

Female: 51,
Graduated:38
Students in Introduction to Office Administration Course
Enrolled:32,

Male: 11,
Graduated: 21
Students enrolled in Basic Computer Course:
Enrolled:30,
Graduated: 17
19
Language Training Class
Computer-Assisted Language Training Class
Information Session
20
CCVT in Pictures
World Refugee Day Celebrations—Yonge/Dundas Square
Computer Program: Graduation
Girlz Club Outing— Raptor’s game
CCVT Mental Health Course—Dr. Payne Presenting
Computer Course graduation
Girlz Club—Royal Ontario Museum Outing
First Light Celebrations
21
CCVT in Pictures
First Light Celebration 2012
Sky’s the Limit Donation of Laptops
to Homework Club
22
First Light Celebrations
Client Information Session
Client Presenting at Int’l Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Celebrating at Int’l Day in Support of
Victims of Torture
Boyz Club Presentation
23
Financial Report
Revenues
2013
2012
1,182,831
1,220,003
150,477
316,379
United Way of Greater Toronto
242,833
237,192
Donations/Fundraising
197,597
167,591
76,911
76 ,911
23,311
23,311
Ontario Trillium Foundation
43,800
58 ,900
City of Toronto—CSGP
23,880
23,880
United Nations Voluntary Fund
4,500
18 ,000
50,000
(50,000)
6,395
1,800
Foundations and Other Charities
14,642
1,500
Sundry Income
1,620
982
Total Revenues
2,018,797
2,096,459
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
· Settlement
· LIP
Ministry of Citizenship
· NSP
· Pay Equity
Deferred Fundraising
Honorarium
Total Expenses
Surplus
2,010,455
2,079,605
8,342
16,854
24
Financial Report
(cont’d)
Consolidated Schedule of Operations
Year Ended March 31, 2013
Expenses
2013
2012
1,339,868
1,490,763
Program Supplies and Expenses
135,488
146,021
Rent
73,552
71,610
Fundraising Expenses
120,047
69,496
Bookkeeping
Common Expenses
Printing and Photocopying
Telephone
Maintenance and Cleaning
IT Support/Web Hosting
Professional Fees
Utilities
Mortgage interest
Insurance
Staff Development
Conferences and Meetings
Postage and Courier
Volunteer Support
Interest and Bank Charges (Net)
Stationary & Supplies
Program Admin (Net of Recoveries)
Funded Capital Purchases
Dues and Fees
31,002
40,177
34,340
29,866
35,152
28,241
5,939
26,874
15,571
9,972
6,057
17,950
2,682
3,376
195
13,928
0
10,701
3,708
38,631
33,063
28,534
28,172
27,476
27,440
22,964
16,792
6,452
11,303
10,340
6,452
5,563
4,829
5,133
4,032
(21,138)
3,752
3,515
540
3,461
Equipment Rental/Repair
Funded Renovation
Foreign Exchange Loss
(1,895)
830
-2,984
Amortization
27,124
27,023
2,010,455
2,079,605
Wages and benefits
Publicity
TOTAL EXPENSES:
25
Legal Committee Report
The CCVT Legal Committee is presently composed of five
lawyers (in different fields of refugee/immigration law and
human rights law) and two staff members who act as liaisons by
bringing any legal problems CCVT clients may have to the
attention of the Committee. The committee is also active in the
field of policy analysis, legal support and research, as well as
being involved in monitoring national and international human
rights instruments dealing with torture, genocide, war crimes,
crimes against humanity, impunity, as well as the activities of
the bodies involved in the protection and rehabilitation of
survivors, refugees and other uprooted people. The Committee
recruits its members from the CCVT Board, Legal Network,
staff and volunteers, and it provides recommendations to the
CCVT Board; it includes at least one person from the Board and
one CCVT staff member.
Other Legislative Changes
Bill C-43
Members: Kristin Marshall, Paulina Wyrzykowski
Legal Committee discussed Bill C-43 when it was before
Parliament. The bill was entitled Faster Removal of Foreign
Criminals Act. It was a new amendment to the Immigration and
Refugee Protection Act. The bill, which has received Royal
Assent, gives the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service
(CSIS) authority to interview claimants. The Legal Committee
advised CCVT to be very careful about the protection of
innocent survivors of torture.
Staff Support: Ezat Mossallanejad
The Legal Committee also discussed a bill before Parliament
amending the provisions of the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment
(PRPA). It was mentioned that Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC) might change the age limit for children to 18
when it comes to family reunification with no exemption for
children who are continuing their education. CIC intends to
extend the sponsorship undertaking from 10 to 20 years. The
Legal Committee recommended that the CCVT should let
clients know about legislative changes well in advance.
International Remedies
With the implementation of new amendments to the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the possibility of
refugees’ refoulement to torture, the Legal Committee is looking
During the past year, the CCVT Legal Committee dealt with the into the possible utilization of international remedies. The
following areas of policy support:
Committee regretted the lack of government attention to
international remedies. It has been reported that a case went to
New Immigration Legislation
the UN Committee against Torture in an attempt to stay
The CCVT Legal Committee made an extensive study of the
deportation. Canada, however, ignored all due process and went
measures enacted to amend the Immigration and Refugee
ahead with the process of removal.
Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, the Marine
The Legal Committee provided feedback about a client who
Transportation Security Act and the Department of Citizenship
came to Canada under husband’s sponsorship along with two
and Immigration Act (Bill C-31). The committee continued with
children from the previous husband. They could not get along
its past efforts and helped the CCVT in providing the
and she had to live separately. She was afraid that the husband
government with feedback on Bill C-31 and preparing the
withdrew her citizenship application. The Legal Committee
Centre for its attendance at the parliamentary committee. On
provided information about husband’s financial responsibility.
May 1, 2012, the CCVT staff liaison with the Legal Committee
participated at the House of Common’s Standing Committee on The Legal Committee provided advice about a client who had
Citizenship and Immigration and raised CCVT concerns about
been accepted as a Protected Person in Canada. She has legal
Bill C-31.
guardianship of her 3 younger brothers who are living in her
country of origin. They have lost their parents and are left there
Bill C-31 received Royal Assent on June 28, 2012. The CCVT
with no close relative. She wanted to include them in her
Legal Committee has been involved in monitoring the impact of
landing application. The Legal Committee advised in favor of
the bill on our clients since then.
this option provided that she would make it on humanitarian and
compassionate grounds.
IRB and Truncated Timelines
With advice from the Legal Committee, CCVT staff members
The Legal Committee is looking into the shortened time-lines
assisted their clients in their sponsorship, landing and
for getting doctors’ reports to the IRB in support of survivors of citizenship applications. They also helped with the internal
torture who apply for refugee status. It was recommended that
review and appeal process of clients whose social assistance and
in the short-run we ask the IRB for postponement (adjournment) Ontario Disability benefit had been refused. Those clients who
for vulnerable clients. Although the IRB are strict about
were victims of crimes were also assisted with legal advice from
timelines, these efforts still retain the potential of success. We
the committee.
will attempt to provide further documentation about
adjournment. We should attract IRB’s attention to its Guideline
for Vulnerable People.
Co-chairs: Andrew Brouwer and Richard Wazana
26
Legal Committee Report
(cont’d)
Clients’ Specific Problems
The following are some specific problems of CCVT clients that With advice from the Legal Committee, CCVT staff members
assisted their clients in their sponsorship, landing and
we tried to address with the help of the Legal Committee:
citizenship applications. They also helped with the internal
review and appeal process of clients whose social assistance
and Ontario Disability benefit had been refused. Those clients
The Legal Committee provided feedback about a client who
who were victims of crimes were also assisted with legal
came to Canada under husband’s sponsorship along with two
children from the previous husband. They could not get along advice from the committee.
and she had to live separately. She was afraid that the husband
withdrew her citizenship application. The Legal Committee
provided information about husband’s financial responsibility. Co-chairs: Andrew Brouwer and Richard Wazana
Members: Kristin Marshall, Paulina Wyrzykowski
The Legal Committee provided advice about a client who had
Staff Support: Ezat Mossallanejad
been accepted as a Protected Person in Canada. She has legal
guardianship of her 3 younger brothers who are living in her
country of origin. They have lost their parents and are left there
with no close relative. She wanted to include them in her
landing application. The Legal Committee advised in favor of
this option provided that she would make it on humanitarian
and compassionate grounds.
Richard Wazana
Lawyer, Secretary,
Board of Directors
Paulina Wyrzykowski
Immigrant & Refugee
Coordinator
St. Christopher House
Ezat Mossallanejad
Policy Analyst/
Researcher/Settlement/
Trauma Counsellor
27
Public Education Committee Report
Mandate
Ezat Mossallanejad
The function of the Public Education Committee is to contribute to the implementation of the
organizational mandate to raise awareness of the continuing effects of torture, war, genocide and crimes
against humanity on survivors and their families, and to work for their protection and integrity. The
Committee also strives to contribute to the development of human rights in theory and in practice on a
global scale. The CCVT is also a learning centre, focusing on torture, other international crimes, and
protection and rehabilitation of survivors through activities that include research, production and
distribution of learning materials, onsite training and education programs for staff, volunteers, students and
the community, as well as public forums and presentations - locally and globally.
Policy Analyst/
Researcher/Settlement/
Trauma Counsellor
Collaboration
In its public education endeavors, the CCVT
maintained a close collaboration with the Canadian
Council for Refugees, the Canadian Centre for
International Justice, York University, University of
Toronto, Ryerson University, University of Ottawa,
Wilfred Laurier University, George Brown College,
Humber College, Seneca College, FCJ Refugee Centre,
Amnesty International and the branch office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The
CCVT staff continued to play a major role in the
Speakers’ Bureau of the United Way. It has been a
wonderful training opportunity to educate non-profit
agencies as well as business communities about the scourge
of torture, war and genocide while paying special attention to
the need for rehabilitation of survivors.
Prevention, Eradication of Torture and Rehabilitation of
Survivors Conference, San Diego, California
Partnership
During the past year, the CCVT continued a successful partnership with the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University as
well as a number of settlement agencies affiliated with the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP). The Scarborough branch of the
CCVT collaborated with the Toronto East Quadrant as well as Eglinton East/Kennedy Park Network. The latter includes a
network of many agencies such as the YMCA, Tropicana, Public Health, the City of Toronto, etc. The CCVT is collaborating
with almost all member agencies with regards to public education on health and legal services.
The CCVT has also been in close involvement with Mount Sinai Hospital as well as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
(CAMH) in a training program on issues related to after-effects of torture, war, genocide and crimes against humanity. We have
addressed issues such as trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, vicarious traumatization, etc.
The CCVT collaboration with the Centre for Ethics, at the University of Toronto, also continued during the past year. It worked
as a link between community and academic research. Along with University of Toronto professors, we supervised students doing
research on topics pertaining to the CCVT mandate.
28
Public Education Committee Report
(cont’d)
Public Awareness Workshop and Presentations
The following are some examples of workshops and presentations the CCVT held in the past year:
On April 3, 2012, the CCVT provided a two-hour workshop to the students of St. Michael’s College on the scourge of
torture and the need for rehabilitation of survivors.
On April. 12, 2012, The CCVT staff held a special meeting at the Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto, and provided
students with a detailed presentation on the CCVT mandate.
On June 10, 2012, the CCVT policy analyst gave a half-day workshop at The North York Civic Centre. He spoke at length
about the problem of torture and impunity to the Iranian community. More than 150 people attended the meeting and
members of the audience raised relevant questions and made useful comments.
The CCVT Policy Analyst and Researcher gave a presentation to a large audience at the Scarborough Civic Centre on
Canada's changed (and changing) immigration policy on September 19, 2012.
In the second half of October 2012, the CCVT Policy Analyst and Researcher traveled to Florida, USA and gave
workshops to the general audience and students at different institutions of Tallahassee and Tampa including Amnesty
International (Florida), Florida Centre for Survivors of Torture, University of Florida, Faculty of Law, State University
of Florida (SUF). The topic included torture in the 21 st Century, Holistic Services to Survivors, and Religion, Torture,
Violence and Peace.
On October 22, 2012, the CCVT provided a workshop to the students of Trinity College University of Toronto on its
mandate and best practices in serving survivors.
On Monday December 10, 2012, an event with the participation of more than 100 people was held at the CCVT downtown
branch. In this event, Ms. Mahvash Alasvandi, the founder and director of Mothers Against Execution shared her
reflections on the Right to Life (her speech was in Farsi with English interpretation). Mahvash is of a bereaved a
mother of two executed sons in Iran.
On January 29, 2013, the CCVT provided a workshop to the students of York University (Toronto) on the Trauma of Exile
and the Challenge of Resettlement.
On March 26th, 2013, the CCVT Policy Analyst and Researcher, attended Seneca College’s School of Community services
and gave a presentation to the students and teachers who had participated at the Social Services - Immigrant &
Refugee 3rd Annual Forum.
Learning Materials
CCVT’s journal, the First Light, continues to provide valued and critical commentaries on current issues along with
information on the Centre’s programs and activities. The last issue contains articles and research by the CCVT staff, volunteers,
clients and supporters. First Light has and will continue to serve as a valuable means of education and public awareness. First
Light, along with other research reports and public education materials are available on the CCVT web site.
Chair: Prof. Susan McGrath
Members: Regine King and Mulugeta Abai and Chizuru Nobe
Staff Support: Ezat Mossallanejad, Teresa Dremetsikas and Huda Bukhari
29
International Committee Report
The CCVT International Committee monitors the activities and services of a network of organizations that support survivors
of torture, war, genocide and crimes against humanity and makes the recommendations necessary to the CCVT Board of
Directors. This committee is also working towards monitoring and responding to global issues related to the prevention,
exposure and eradication of torture, war, genocide and crimes against humanity. During the year 2012-2013, the International
Committee was involved in the following activities:
Canada’s Compliance with Human Rights instruments
The CCVT provided the government of Canada as well as the UN Human Rights Council with detailed feedback on the
occasion of its universal periodic review of Canada in May 2013.
Canada’s Sixth Report to the UN Committee against Torture
The CCVT provided its feedback to the Canadian government about compliance with Canada’s Sixth Report to the UN
Committee against Torture. The CCVT asked the government to share its concerns with the relevant federal departments as
well as the responsible departments in the provinces and territories. We extended the hope that our feedback would serve to
inform Canada’s future reports to the United Nations Committee against Torture and other treaties’ monitoring bodies.
UNHCR-NGOs Annual Meeting in Geneva
The CCVT Policy Analyst participated in the joint meeting of the UNHCR and NGOs at the International Conference Centre
in Geneva (Switzerland) from June 2nd to 5th 2012. He raised questions about international protection of refugees who face
torture, war, genocide and crimes against humanity. He provided other NGOs with information about best practices in serving
this category of vulnerable refugees.
Consultation Meeting with Sister Agencies
In an attempt to share information and facilitate International collaboration, the CCVT representative participated at an
informal meeting of centres for survivors of torture who had come from different countries to participate at the UNHCRNGOs meeting of 2012. The meeting was held at the branch office of the International Rehabilitation Centre for Torture
Victims (IRCT) in Geneva. In this productive meeting, discussions were made about the best methodology of public education
against torture. We also discussed a joint module for providing the UN treaty bodies with our feedback.
International Conference on Forced Migration
The CCVT Policy Analyst traveled to Calcutta, India and participated in the International Conference on Forced Migration
(January 9 to 12, 2013). He gave two workshops to the members of the audience: 1) The Trauma of Uprootedness; 2) In the
field experience of serving survivors.
Vancouver Conference
On June 20 2012, the CCVT Program Manager, Teresa Dremetsikas, attended an event of international significance, the
Canada and Refugee Resettlement Conference. The event was held in Vancouver B.C. She provided feedback to the audience
about the special needs of refugee survivors of torture and war.
Optional Protocol
The International Committee continued to monitor developments regarding OPCAT, dealing with the mandate of the UN
Committee Against Torture to enter and monitor conditions in places of detention. We will continue to urge the government of
Canada towards the ratification of OPCAT.
During the past year, the CCVT continued its collaboration with the Canadian Centre for International Justice (CCIJ). The
CCIJ is now incorporated as a non-profit charitable NGO. The mandate of CCIJ is to address the global problem of impunity,
and to bring torturers, war criminals and people who have committed crimes against humanity to justice in Canada.
30
International Committee Report
(cont’d)
Canadian Council for International Justice (CCIJ)
During the past year, the CCVT continued its collaboration with
the Canadian Centre for International Justice (CCIJ). The CCIJ is
now incorporated as a non-profit charitable NGO. The mandate of
CCIJ is to address the global problem of impunity, and to bring
torturers, war criminals and people who have committed crimes
against humanity to justice in Canada.
Annual General Meeting—Canadian Centre for International
Justice –Vancouver
Client testimony—International Day in Support of Victims of
Torture, June 26 Celebrations
Respect for Human Rights Experts
On June 1st 2012, the CCVT wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, urging him to engage more closely with the UN special
rapporteurs and experts who come to Canada with specific missions.
Omar Khadr
In October 2012, the CCVT wrote a follow up letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding the case of Mr. Omar Khadr,
We congratulated the government for the return of Mr. Khadr to Canada. We expressed our concerns over the harsh and
degrading treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and the lifelong psychological consequences of such treatment. We
raised our concerns about physical and mental health complications resulting from Mr. Khadr’s imprisonment. We called for
proper treatment for Mr. Khadr, while offering CCVT services to assist in his rehabilitation.
Chair: Prof. Susan McGrath, Marina Nemat
Members: Mulugeta Abai, Teresa Dremetsikas, Chizuru Nobe, Huda Bukhari
and Ezat Mossallanejad
31
Health Committee Report
The following are a few highlights of the many accomplishments of the CCVT Health committee during this
year particularly in the area of sharing of knowledge and promotion of services of CCVT at different events:
The Certificate course: “Hope after the Horror” which involved nine sessions delivered at CCVT by 12
different Health professionals on different topics related to trauma and torture. There were 40
participants per session from the community at large.
Presentation at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) for the residents in psychiatry
Participation of CCVT in the advisory committee at the Inter-Professional Project advisory Committee
(IPAC) a project to devise on line training on the subject of Mental Health of refugees.
Participation on the on line community webinars to exchange knowledge with community service
providers
Participation in the Trauma Informed Care Research Project at Women College
Most of the Health Committee members also provide clinical services, mentoring and this year they have
provided debriefing sessions.
Graduates from the Certificate course on Refugee Trauma completed on June 2013
32
Health Committee Members
33
Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership Report
The Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) is a community partnership focus
on developing local settlement strategies that coordinate and enhance service delivery to
newcomers while promoting innovation and efficient use of resources. Its boundaries span
from Keel Street in the west, to Victoria Park Avenue in the east, and from Lake Ontario in
the south to St. Clair Avenue in the north. The Toronto South quadrant-LIP continues to
expand on the work of the three previous neighbourhood-based local immigration
partnerships; the East Downtown Toronto LIP (lead by the Canadian Centre for Victims of
Torture), the West Downtown Toronto LIP (lead by St. Stephen’s Community House) and
the Toronto East LIP (lead by Woodgreen Community Services).
Over the past year, over eighty agencies worked together as members of the Toronto South
LIP, to develop a common vision and to identify areas for action. The Toronto South LIP is
committed to developing and implementing its Settlement Strategy an Action Plan in a way
that:
Nicole Watson, Community
Engagement Coordinator &
a) Builds on the area’s history and expertise in the delivery of settlement services
B) Acknowledges member agencies’ areas of specialization and uniqueness
c) Recognizes the desirability of multiple service choices and variety in service delivery
styles so as to best meet the diverse and unique service needs of newcomers and
immigrants
d) Recognizes the services and supports provided by community groups and faith-based
organizations
e) Appreciates newcomers and immigrants for the various roles that they play in our
community as neighbours, colleagues, employees, employers, parents, students and service
providers, as well as receivers of services
f) Improves the ability of newcomers and immigrants to increasingly become economically,
socially, and civically engaged in the local community at their own pace
Kera Vijayasingham, Community Animation Coordinator
This year has provided an important foundation in building collaborative relations among
our members and improving outcomes for our sector. Toronto South LIP Committees and
Working Groups have worked tirelessly over the past year to maintain the momentum of the former three neighbourhood LIPs
during the initial transition phase. Many significant and notable tasks were accomplished, including the following:
Establishment of a Newcomer Advisory Committee: twenty-five diverse newcomers were recruited and brought together to
participate in the Newcomer Advisory Committee. This Committee included newcomers of all ages and both genders from a
broad range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The Committee members worked to identify issues faced by newcomers
and suggest approaches to addressing them at the individual level, as well as the organizational and systemic levels.
Committee members also provide diverse perspectives to identify or confirm the issues and needs of newcomers in the
Toronto South area.
Execution of a Newcomer Mental Health Information & Service Coordination Forum: The Mental Health Working
Group, composed of representatives of mental health service providers as well as organizations serving newcomers, organized
and executed an Information & Service Coordination Forum on Newcomer Mental Health. The forum which took place in
March 2013 served as an avenue for the sharing of best practices and useful resources for settlement and mental health service
providers within the Toronto South LIP region by providing an inclusive space for capacity building among neighbourhood
agencies. The event was videotape and is available for viewing on the Toronto South LIP website.
Completion of Unaccompanied Youth Forum: members of the Newcomer Youth Working Group planned and executed a
newcomer youth forum (“Super Youth Night 2013”) focused on the needs of unaccompanied newcomer youth in Canada. The
forum sought to bring together cross-sectoral stakeholders who offer specialized services for unaccompanied youth,
strengthening organizational networks leading to improved service delivery (i.e. increasing the capacity for “warm referrals”
among agencies dealing with this target population); and provide an opportunity for unaccompanied newcomer youth to
access information on essential services. The event was videotape and is available for viewing on the Toronto South LIP
website.
34
Toronto South Local
Immigration Partnership Report (cont’d)
Formation of Systemic Issues and Social Change Subcommittees: over 40 Committee members from across the City of
Toronto, including representatives of organizations serving newcomers and LIP Staff from all four Quadrants, participate in
the Citywide Systemic Issues & Social Change Committee. The committee members worked together to establish a Health
Subcommittee focused on improving Health Equity and an Employment Subcommittee focused on addressing employers’
“Canadian Experience” requirement. The group also established an “Events” subcommittee to work towards organizing a
city-wide Social Change Fair to promote civic engagement among newcomers
Toronto South LIP Communications: in addition to the work of the Committees and Working Groups, the Toronto South
LIP regularly conducted a series of communications activities to support information sharing among Toronto South
members organizations. These activities included: producing Toronto South LIP newsletters disseminated online to 280
subscribers (a total of three from June 2012 to March 2013); distributing Toronto South LIP Email Updates to
approximately 200 subscribers each week (a total of 36 from June 2012 to March 2013); and updating the Toronto South
LIP website weekly with information on resources, community events and training opportunities
The above are highlights of the Toronto South LIP accomplishments over the 2012-2013 fiscal year. For a full and detailed
report please refer to the Toronto South LIP Settlement Strategy & Action Plan (2013) available online at
www.TorontoLIP.com/2013Report
Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership,
Newcomer Advisory Committee Meeting, June 2012
Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership, Newcomer Mental
Health Information & Service Coordination Forum, March 2013
Toronto South Local Immigration
Partnership, Unaccompanied Youth
Forum, March 2013
35
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Mohan Doss is the founder and
president of Campus Logix and has over
16 years of professional HR management
experience working within various
industry sectors like manufacturing,
information technology, consulting and
nonprofits. Mohan is currently Director of
Human resources at Catholic Cross
Cultural Services. He is the Current chair
of CCVT board of directors.
SECTRETARY
OF THE
BOARD AND
MEMBER OF
THE
LEGAL AND
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
*TREASURER
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
AND FUNDRAISING
COMMITTEE
MEMBER
TREASURER
OF THE
BOARD AND
MEMBER OF
EXECUTIVE
AND FUNDRAISING
COMMITTEE
Richard Wazana holds an LLB from
Osgood Hall Law School, York
University, and an MSW and a Masters of
Education from the University of
Toronto. He is currently working as an
immigration and refugee lawyer. Mr.
Wazana brings extensive social policy and
social services experience. He was
actively involved in the following
HEALTH
organizations: Park dale Community
COMMITTEE
Legal services, Kids Help Phone, the
MEMBER
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
the Laidlaw Foundation and Family
Services Association of Toronto. He
joined the Board in December 2006.
Blas Austria is Certified General
Accountant who is currently working as
Director of Finance and Administration at
Working Women Centre. He brings a
wealth of experience as a financial analyst
with Livingston International in Etobicoke
and as finance and Administrative officer
with GF and Partners, Architects Co. in
Philippines.
VOLUNTEER
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Fatoumata ( Fanta) Ongoiba: is
the executive Director of AfricanS in
Partnership against Aids. She is a leader in
the African community, a member of
Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/
AIDS, and African/ Caribbean Council on
HIV/AIDS. She holds Master’s in
Cooperative Business Development and
management, Masters in Business
Administration and PhD in Economics.
* Resigned
Dianne Oliphant has been a member of
the CCVT Board of Directors since August
2011, is a member of the Fundraising
Committee, and has been involved with CCVT
since 2006 as a volunteer. Dianne has an
undergraduate degree in Environmental
Studies with a Certificate in Refugee and
Migration Studies, a post-graduate certificate
in International Project Management and
Masters of Business Administration. Dianne
has lived and worked internationally, including
in Hong Kong and the Philippines, has worked
in the non-profit sector, and currently work for
the Ontario Government in the Ministry of
Education. Dianne greatly enjoys being a
member of the Board and looks forward to her
continued involvement with CCVT.
Branka Agic is the Manager of Health
Equity at CAMH and Deputy Director of the
Collaborative Program in Addiction Studies,
School of Graduate Studies, and University of
Toronto. Branka received a Master’s degree in
Health Science in Health Promotion with the
Collaborative Program in Addiction Studies
from the University of Toronto, and a medical
degree from the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia
& Herzegovina. She is a doctoral candidate in
the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the
University of Toronto. Branka has extensive
experience working with immigrants and
refugees. Her main areas of interest include
social determinants of immigrant and refugee
mental health and access to services.
Patricia M. Baranek is an independent
health policy and research consultant and is an
adjunct assistant professor in the Institute of
Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at
the University of Toronto. Her areas of
expertise include research, planning,
evaluation and policy development in health
services, mental health, health human
resources, home care and long-term care. She
has a Ph.D. in Health Administration, an M.A.
in Criminology, and a B.Sc. in Psychology
from the University of Toronto and is widely
published in both health care and criminal
justice. Her volunteer work includes the
creation of a centre for the provision of
mindfulness based therapies for disadvantaged
groups; homelessness in Canada; postsecondary education in developing countries;
and abandoned children in Africa.
36
MEMBER
Since 2007, she has been in private
practice, doing primarily Legal Aid work in
a wide scope of criminal cases. She is very
pleased to be joining the Board of Directors
at CCVT and looks forward to making a
contribution to its good work.
Kemi Jacobs is a director of property
management at one of the largest social
housing companies in North America, with
a focus on quality housing, the engagement
of tenants and building a healthy
organization. In her work in the west of
Toronto, her team is focusing on capacitybuilding, good customer service, clean
buildings and a strong operational
performance.
Prior to this post, Kemi lead the Children and
Youth Section at TCHC. Under her leadership,
there was a total re-orientation of the dept. as the
focus changed to youth development approaches
and on the integration of an anti-oppression
framework into work with children and
youth. Programs centered on employment and
finding opportunities for young people to
succeed and shine. Highlights have
included innovative initiatives such as the
Leadership series for approximately 300 youth
from across the City, a Zine, Youth In Power
youth group, increasing youth involvement in
TCHC's Tenant Participation System, an
Economic Opportunities forum and on
developing strategic partnerships with
employment agencies that led to jobs for 400
youth in the summer of 2006, as well as with the
Ontario Justice Education Network.
With over 20 years of community involvement,
Kemi is a past President of the Canadian Council
for Refugees, former executive director of
Culture Link Settlement Services and a past
chairperson of the National Anti-Racism Council
of Canada.
Seble Makonnen is a criminal defence
LEGAL
lawyer in Toronto. She graduated from
COMMITTEE Windsor Law School in 2004 and was
MEMBER
called to the bar in 2005 following articles
at a criminal defence firm in Toronto. She
started her career working as Duty Counsel
at the Old City Hall courthouse, servicing
marginalized groups dealing with issues
such as homelessness, drug addiction, and
mental illness and complications relating to
immigration and refugee claims. The
volume and intensity of work at this, one of
the busiest courthouses in Toronto,
provided her with a comprehensive
foundation in public law and the
surrounding challenges related to poverty
and disenfranchised members of the
population.
PUBLIC
EDUCATION &
INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE
MEMBER
Marina Nemat was born in 1965 in
Tehran, Iran. After the Islamic Revolution
of 1979, she was arrested at the age of
sixteen and spent more than two years in
Evin, a political prison in Tehran, where
she was tortured and came very close to
execution. She came to Canada in 1991 and
has called it home ever since. Her memoir
of her life in Iran, Prisoner of Tehran, was
published in Canada by Penguin Canada in
April 2007, has been published in 28 other
countries, and has been an international
bestseller. MacLean’s Magazine has called
it “…one of the finest (memoirs) ever
written by a Canadian.” Prisoner of Tehran
has been short listed for many literary
awards, including the Young Minds Award
in the UK and the Borders Original Voices
Award in the US. On December 15, 2007,
Marina received the inaugural Human
Dignity Award from the European
Parliament, and in October 2008, she
received the prestigious Grinzane Prize in
Italy. In 2008/2009, she was an Aurea
Fellow at University of Toronto’s Massey
College, where she wrote her second book,
After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed, which was
published by Penguin Canada in September
2010 and has so far been published in four
countries. Marina has spoken at tens of
high schools, universities, and conferences
around the world.
CO-CHAIR
Clare Pain MD, MSc., FRCPC is an
HEALTH COMAssociate Professor at the Department of
MITTEE
Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Director
of the Psychological Trauma Program at
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Co-project
director of the Toronto Addis Ababa
Psychiatry Project
(TAAPP) .www.utoronto.ca/ethiopia, and
Coordinator of the University of TorontoAddis Ababa Collaboration Program
(TAAAC) www.taaac.ca.
37
Board of Directors
Her clinical focus is on the assessment
FUNDRAISING Steven Theobald is a communications and
and treatment of patients with
marketing professional committed to
psychological trauma as well on the trans COMMITTEE
MEMBER
supporting the not-for-profit sector. After 10
-cultural aspects of psychological trauma,
years as a staff reporter at the Toronto Star, he
and increasingly on aspects of global
ran the public relations for international
mental health. She has lectured and
development NGO Plan Canada, one of the
taught extensively on various aspects of
country’s largest charities. He is currently a
psychological trauma, she has published
director at a communications firm and works
a number of articles on the subject
with a number of charities, including Oxfam
including two books: "Trauma and the
Canada and Skills for Change. Steven has
Body: a Sensorimotor Approach to
travelled extensively throughout the developing
Psychotherapy" with Pat Ogden and
world, including war zones and humanitarian
Kekuni Minton Norton 2006 and “The
disaster areas, and has met many survivors of
Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health
war and torture, including former child
and Disease: The Hidden Epidemic” an
combatants and survivors fleeing the Lord’s
edited book with Eric Vermetten and
Resistance Army in Northern Uganda. He
Ruth Lanius, Cambridge University Press
holds a master’s degree in economics from
2010 (in press).
Queen’s University as well as a degree in
journalism from Ryerson University.
FUNDRAISING
COMMITTEE
MEMBER
Adrianna Salazar is the Community
Engagement Program Coordinator at the
Mennonite New Life in Toronto. Her
training and practice in social justice and
human rights spans 20 years of work in
Colombia and Canada. She brings over
three years of direct engagement with
immigrant communities in Toronto
around topics of economic, social and
civic inclusion. Adriana has led three
Participatory Action Research projects
investigating the access to fair and
meaningful employment for newcomers
and exploring the civic and political
participation of immigrant communities.
She has promoted empowering
opportunities for recent immigrants to
share their stories of struggle, resilience
and innovation through initiatives such as
the Newcomer Advocacy Committee,
Newcomers Speakers Bureau and New
Voices Newsletter. Adriana’s
undergraduate training is in social
psychology at Javeriana University
(Colombia). She is also a graduate of the
International Project Management
program at Humber College (Toronto)
and the Community Economic
Development Program at Concordia
University (Montreal).
38
Legal Network Members
Aida P. Abraha
John Abrams
Bola Adetunji
Richard Addinall
Roy C. Amadi
Lina Anani
Michael F.Battista
Max Berger
Robert Blanshay
Ainslinn Bondy
Raoul Boulakia
Sarah Boyd
Michael Brodzky
Andrew Brouwer
Larry Butkowsky
David Buzaglo
Michael Campell
Juan F. Carranza
Tollis Chan
Desmond Cherrington
Monika Choudhury
Laurence Cohen
Carol Simone Dahan
Susan deLint
Mercy Dadepo
Daniel. H. Dagago
Chantal Desloges
Paul A. Dineen
Mercy Dodepo
Esther Dressler
Marshall Drukarsh
Ralph Dzegniuk
Howard P. Eisenberg
Olay Regina Ejidike
Lorne A. Faratovitch
Joseph S. Farkas
Daniel M. Fine
Ceri Forbes
Stephen Foster
Monika Franklin
Jeffrey Goodman
Lani Gozlan
Evan Green
Mendel Green
Shoshana Green
Stephen Green
John Grice
Isak Grushka
John M. Guoba
Peter E. Haber
Kenneth N. Hagan
Marchand Hagan
Ian D. Hamilton
Vershone C. Herd
Marc Herman
Marjorie Hiley
Rita Hisar
Ted Hyland
Pablo Irribarra
Barbara Jackman
Ravi Jain
Razmeen Joya
Anthony Kako
Hart Kaminker
Catherine Kerr
El Farouk Khaki
Zahra Khedri
Michael Korman
Mitchell E. Korman
Benjamin A. Kranc
Marianne P. Kroes
Peter J. Kroshak
Daniel Kwong
Oware Law Office
Timothy Leach
Wennie Lee
Anita Leggat
Douglas Lehrer
D. Clifford Luyt
Cynthia Mancia
Harry Mann
Karen Manzo
Harvey S. Margel
Christine Marshall
Jack Martin
Lisa McCullough
Adam Mclver
Kevin McTavish
Melissa Melvin
Paul Mergler
Jegan N. Mohan
Dr. Randal Montgomery
Georgina Murphy
David Nakelsky
Hadayat Nazami
Solomon Orjiwuru
David Orman
Norris J. Ormston
Godwin Oware
Pamila B. Pohani
Ron Poulton
Patricia Ann Ritter
Cheryl Robinson
Patrick Roche
Joel Rosen
Lisa Rosenblatt
Roger Rowe
Geraldine Sadoway
Christine N. Sepuya
Geary B. Shorser
Maureen Silcoff
Tricia Simon
Donald C. Simmons
Belva Spiel
William A. Sullivan
Leonard Susman
Byron J. M. Thomas
Helen Trentos
Paul Vandervennen
Lorne Waldman
Stephen Waldman
Mordechai Wasserman
Richard Wazana
Patricia Wells
Timothy Wichert
Jared Will
Ian Wong
Patricia Wong
Rodney L. H. Woolf
Susan J. Woolner
Peter J. Wuebbol
David P. Yerzy
Mehran Youssefi
39
Health Network Members
Psychiatrists, Psychologists
Family Doctors and General Practitioners
Dr. W. Block
Dr. L. Andermann
Dr. S. Gazeley
Dr. G. Devins
Dr. D. Honickman
Dr. M. Freire
Dr. T. Pell
Dr. X. Fornazzari
Dr. J. Rackal
Dr. M. Gholamain
Dr. L. Richmond
Dr. O. Gozlan
Dr. K. Ruleau
Dr. S. A. Hassan
Dr. A. Vaezi
Dr. T. Lo
Dr. R. Meier
Dr. A. Munshi
Other Specialists
Dr. C. Pain
Dr. D. Payne
Dr. M. Ryhanian, Dentist
Dr. J. Pilowsky
Dr. P. Wade, Hearing Specialist
Dr. R. Stall
Dr. D. Stein
40
Collaborating Agencies
 Le Conselil des Africains et Caraibeeens sur le VIH/sida
en Ontario
 519 Church Street Community Centre
 Abaasarusi Missionary Church
 Access Alliance Multicultural Community
Health Centre
 ACCESS Employment Centre
 Adam's House
 Afghan Association of Ontario
 Afghan Women's Counseling & Integration
Community Support Organization
 Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA)
 Amnesty International
 Arab Community Centre of Toronto
 Assemblee Nouvelle Alliance
 Association Toronto Acceuil
 AYCE Employment Services
 Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
 Bickford Centre - TDSB
 Black CAP
 Black Creek Community Health Centre
 CACVO ACCHO
 CAMH
 Canadian Centre for International Justice
 Canadian Council for Refugees
 Canadian Red Cross
 Canoraaa
 Catholic Cross Cultural Services
 Cawthoura Park Secondary School
 Children’s Aid Society
 Centre Francophone du Toronto Metropolitan
 Centre for Information & Community Resources
 Centre francophone de Toronto
 Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
 College Boreal
 Community Action Resource Centre

COSTI

Council of Agencies Serving South Asian
(CASSA)








Covenant House



Elizabeth Fry Society
CultureLink
Dixon Hall Employment Services
Downsview Family Health Centre
East End Community Health Centre
East Metro Toronto Youth Services
East York Collegiate Institute
Eglise de Dieu del la Prophetie francophone
Eritrean Canadian Association of Ontario
Eritrean Canadian Community
Centre of Metropolitan Toronto





Ethiopian Association in Toronto










Florence Booth House: The Salvation Army


Iranian Community Association
Family Residence - Lido Motel
Family Service Association in Scarborough
Federation of Metro Tenant’s Association
Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services
Fred Victor
George Brown College
Good Sheppard Ministries
Goodwill Employment Centre
HALCO (HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic, Ontario)
Hamilton House
Hincks -Delcrest
Hong Fook Mental Health Association
Iranian Canadian Newcomer Association
Islamic Social Services &
Resources Association


Le Passerelle

Legal Aid Ontario
Le centre d’Acceuil HeritageLAMP Ask Community
Health Centre
41
Collaborating Agencies
(cont’d)






Madison Community Services
Madison House
Matthew House
Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support
Metropolitan Community Church
MIDAYNTA Association of
Somali Service Agencies

Mount Sinai Hospital

Mouvement Ontarien des Femmes Immigrants francophone









Neighbourhood Legal Services










Polycultural Immigrant Community Services




Seneca College
Northwood Neighbourhood Services
OASIS Centre des Femmes
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Omar Bin Khattab Mosque
Ontario Works Offices
Parkdale Community Information Centre
Parkdale Community Legal Services
Planned Parenthood Toronto
Red Cross
Regent Park Community Health Centre
Rexdale Women's Centre
Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre
Romero House
Ryerson University Tri-Mentoring Program
Scarborough Centre for Alternative Studies
Scarborough East Ontario Early Years Centre
Scarborough General Hospital
Sherbourne Health Centre
Sick Kids Hospital
Sojourn House








Sistering

St. Michael's College









St. Michael's Hospital






Toronto Rehab
Skills for Change
Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke
Somali Immigrant Aid Organization
South Asian Family Support Services
St. Christopher House
St. James Town Library
St. Joseph Health Centre Toronto
St. Paul Trinity Church
Tamil Eelam Society of Canada
Times Change Women’s Employment Service
Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Services
Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
Toronto Family Services
Toronto Public Health
Toronto Public Library
University of Toronto—Faculty of Social Work
Welcome Centre Immigrant Services
Wellesley Community Centre
West Scarborough Legal Services
Women's College Women's Health
in Women's Hands



Woodgreen Community Centre of Toronto




YWCA of Greater Toronto
Working Skills Centre
Working Women Community Centre
Yonge Street Mission
Youth Employment Services
Youthlink
42
CCVT Staff
Mulugeta Abai
Teresa Dremetsikas
Ermelina Balla
Thilaga Jeganathan
Executive Director
Program Manager
Manager, Settlement Services
Settlement
Coordinator/ Trauma
Counsellor
Scarborough
Ezat Mossallanejad
Huda Bukhari
Michael Prokaziuk
Abdul Abubaker
Policy Analyst//Researcher/
Settlement/Trauma
Counsellor
Manager, Volunteer Services
Development Manager
Language and Skills Development
Nicole Watson
Kera Vijayasingham
Juliette Ntege
Samar Ahmed
TSLIP Community
Engagement Coordinator
Community Animation
Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
Settlement/Trauma
Counselor
LIP
LIP
Coordinator
Scarborough
Scarborough
43
CCVT Staff, cont’d
*Gabriela Agatiello
Sidonia Couto
Mildred Fidele
Rahel Gebregiorgis
Settlement/Trauma Counselor
Child/Youth Settlement/Trauma
Counselor
Settlement/Trauma Counselor
Settlement/Trauma Counselor
Rejenthan Rajanthiran
Sandrine Tonoukouin
Mbalu Wembo
Selamawit Yohannes
Assistant Child/Youth Settlement
Counselor
Settlement/Trauma Counselor
Settlement/Trauma Counselor
Settlement/Trauma Counselor
Elena Solokhina
Delfina Vega de Paiz
Ferdinand Alvarez
**Desiree Dumlao
Computer Instructor
Intake Assistant \ Office
Coordinator
Administrative Assistant/Accounts
Receivable/Accounts Payable
Administrative Assistant
Scarborough
* Resigned
**Maternity leave
44
CCVT Staff, cont’d
David Burt
Inez Caldwell
Rose Coulton
KeSoon Lee
Instructor LINC II
Instructor LINC III
Instructor LINC I
Instructor ESL, TDSB
Yael Padawer
Carmina Popescu
Instructor ESL, TDSB
Instructor ESL, TDSB
Aline Gilor
University of Windsor, MA Social Work
Alyssa Cruz
University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Amy Soberano
University of Toronto, MA Social Work, 2 nd Year
Carli Chan
University of Toronto, TESOL Practicum
Christina Maratta
McGill University, Faculty of Medicine
Deepti Chopra
Queen’s University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Farwa Farshori
Ryerson University, Faculty of Social Work, 2 nd year
Ji Young Jennifer Lee
Queen’s University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Johanne Mose RInggard
VIA University, Denmark, Faculty of Social Work
Magdalena Szumilas
Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
Masato Minam
Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
Michel Daoust
Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
Rejenthan Rajanthiran
York University, MA Environmental Science
Stephanie Liu
University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Susan Muscovitch
University of Toronto, MA, OISE
Tallia Cheifetz
York University, BA Social Work
Student Interns
2013
45
Figure 1: CCVT Survivors
46
47
Client Statistics
Figure 2: Referral Sources
Figure 3: Age
48
Client Statistics (cont’d)
Figure 4: Gender
Figure 5: Marital Status
49
CCVT Survivors (cont’d)
Figure 6: Client Education
Figure 7: Top Languages
50
CCVT Survivors (cont’d)
Figure 8: Top 10 Countries
Figure 9: Internal Referrals
51
Individual Donors
Abbas Azadian
Abdul Mansouri
Afkham Mardukhi
Ali Vakili
Alireza Gholipour
Amy Freedman
Ana Toth
Andrew & Suzanna Daviel
Andrew Zarebski
Andrey V. Cybulsky
Angela Goyeau
Angela King
Ann Harrington
Anna E Graham-Cumming
Anna Luengo
Aref Vaezi
Arnold Zweig
B. Alexander Daughtry
Barb Cloutier
Barbara Aitken
Barbara Lyon
Barbra Shaw
Barrie Gray
Barry & Carol Brouwer
Belva Webb
Bernice M. Hergott
Bill Parsons
Blentin Cuko
Brenda Cardillo
Bruce E Burton
Brydon Gombay
Burt Slater
Carol Christensen
Carol Graham
Carolyn Archibald
Carolyn J McGhee
Carolyn Lemon
Caterina Lindman
Catherine McNairn
Catherine Graham
Charles R. Neill
Choi Mei Bettie Lim
Christian Therialult
Christine Nelson
Christoph Dietzfelbinger
Christopher & Colleen Whynot
Claire M. Barrett
Claire Trevena
Claire-Lucie Brunet
Cliona and Lorne Dickie
Dave Collacutt
David & Frieda Gramit
David Robert Schurmann
David Rosenberg
Debby Copes
Deborah Birkett
Derek de Sa
Don & Mary Hogarth
Dona Shar
Donald J. Dodds
Donna Bobier
Dorothy Borg
Dorothy G. Wood
Dorothy Marie Glover
Doug & Jane Pritchard
Douglas Eggins
Douglas Gruner
Douglas Hay
Douglas Lehrer
E.M. Orsten
Edith A. Gear
Edward A. McGivern
Edward Hyland
Elizabeth Briemberg
Elizabeth F. (Beth) Wagschal
Elizabeth M. Pierson
Ellen K. Campbell
Erika H. Lautenschlaeger
Florea Jean Westney
Frances Theilade
Frank Neitzert
Franklin T & Milli Richmond
Gail Geltner
George Buckle
George Kingsbury
Geraldine Connelly
Geraldine Sadoway
Ginny Goldberg
Grace Kaattari
Grace T Burke
Guy Ewing
Hans B De Groot
Haregua Getu
Harinarine Lalla
Harry Finlay
Harry S Shannon
Hayssam Hulays
Helen Nation
Helke Ferrie
Henry Van Essen
Hilary A MacKenzie
Howard B. Abrams
Humphrey Stead
Hung Tat Lo
Ida C Henderson
J Douglas Campbell
Jacqueline Smith
James R. Lane
Jane Marvy
Jane St. Marie
Jean McClure
Jeff Silverstein
Jill E. Blakeney
Joan Simalchik
John & Mrs Barbara Buttars
John and Rebecca Taylor
John B Dillon
John Blum
John C Cairns
John F Wilson
John Green
John Vilcu
Joyce Potter
Judith Baker
Judith McCormack
Julie Clarke
Julie Salveron
June Caskey
K. M. Rudge
Kathleen Giffin
Kathryn Mary VanderVennen
Kenneth R. Langdon
Leib & Sheila Wolofsky
Levonah Kalant
Linda M Kangas
Lisa S. Price
Lorne Heffelfinger
Louis Natale
Louise A Mauffette-Leenders
Lynda Maki
Lynda Watters
M. Jennifer Hyndman
Mara Herscovitch
Marc Warshaw
Marco Campana
Margaret & John Casey
Margaret W. Feenstra
Margaret Whyte
Marguerite Wales
Maria Romanec
Marie Dunn
Marilyn J. McKim
Marina Nemat
Marion Frank
Mark Brett & Kathleen Denomy
Martha Whelton
Martin A. Hagt
Martin Sterling
Mary Anne Peters
Mary I. Macrae
Mary Jean Riddell
Mary McGriskin
Mary Robinson
Mary Sehl
Maureen Lennon
Melissa S. Williams
Menai Wardle
Michael J Jackson
Michael Nevin
Michael Prokaziuk
Michele Landsberg
Michele Millard
Michele O'Keefe
Mohammad Fotovat
Molyn Leszcz
Morton Beiser
Nancy Maguire
Naomi J. McLaughlin
Pamela McCallum
Pat Baranek
Paul H Reinhardt
Paul Lukenge
Paul VanderVennen
Paula Ravitz
Peter Busby & Dr. KA Gelmon
Philip B Berger
Philip Gold
Rachel C Brown
Rachelle Sender
Raoul Boulakia
Raul Berdichevsky
Raven James Brown
Raymond and Anne Morris
Renée Nichole Ferguson
Richard and Rosalind Gilbert
Richard B. Gilman
Richard Wazana
Rita Gagliano
Rob Jenkins
Robert Kazibwe
Robin Pacific
Rose Lee
Rose McIntyre
Rosemary Meier
Rosi & David Jory
S Laurie Curtis
Saeed Rahnema
Sarah Hamdi
Shachin Ghelani
Sheila M. Williams
Sheila O'Reilly
Shelagh Towson
Shirley Blight
Soheila Pashang
Stephen Antle
Stephen Wadhams
Steven Theobald
Sujatha Varghese
Susan M. Beattie
Susan McGrath
Susana I & Omar Agatiello
Sylvia & Ted Walker
Tania Natscheff
Thirumagal Priya Jeganathan
Thomas Morris
Troy Jackson
Uwe Storjohann
Verna Higgins
Wendel Block
William Clarke
Yvonne Chmielewski
Zarintaj Fotouhi
52
CCVT Volunteers
Abdul Jawad Jawad
Abdulkadir Bafagih
Abo Dehnave
Adam Beyhum
Aisha Brown
Alessandra Gallo
Alex MacKinnon
Eric Jensen
Erica Bonitto
Erin Relyea
Eunha Lee
Jonathan Rubenstein
Jordyn Thompson
Jose James
Joshua Patlik
Jothi Shanmugam
Eva Natalia Ramirez
Joy Garmaise
Eve Laughlin
Julia Sohn
Alexander AbdelFaaria Meghji
Kamagra Kamagra
Alice Ekemu
Fabio Bermudez
Kamala Gooroocharan
Aline Gilor
Fairuz Tia Nawar
Karen Hill
Allie Shier
Farah Naz
Kassi Wicke
Alteril Ateril
Farah Saleem
Katarina Pfund
Amelia Trompf
Farha
Parmita
Katarina Tomasone
Amy Hao Ly
Fassil Woldemariam
Kate Rudd
Anamjit Sivia
Franky Thomas
Angela Sarjeant
Kathadbhai Chhaiya
Angelique Lazarus
Katherine Robinson
Gajenthiran SivaAngie Chan
Katie Bresner
Angie Trif
Ghazala Hasany
Katrina TsikourasAniqa Rahman
Ginny Fanthome
Kousis
Anjula Nadeshalingam
Giselle Vazquez
Kavita Rao
Anjuman Shelly
Gloria Antwi
Kay-Ann Coleman
Ann Warden
Gurjiwan
Brar
Kaysan Islam
Annie Vinodhini
Hafsa Arooj
Kelly Stephens
Antunes maria
Halima Iqbal
Kimberly Lansdowne
Arvind Bedi
Hamid Said
Asia Defretas
Kirandeep Kahlon
Asia Popczyk
Hariharan Selvakuma- Konstandinos StamaAyesha Mansur
takis
Bera Garcia
Harsimer Singh
Kristin Bracewell
Berivan Sarikaya
Heather Sheppard
Lais Regis
Bill Gillespie
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Bita Nasehi
Homyra Omar
Layla Hussain
Blanca Manresa
Huili
(May)
Mao
Leanne Fok
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Idil
Farah
Lee Cohen
Brett Nguyen
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Lennie Abecia
Camille Blake
Irina Afonina
Li Guo
Carli Sultana
Carlos Aliaga
Iriss Mariano
Liliya Khamzayeva
Catalina Gomez
Jack Watt
Lina Ibrahem
Chanel Tsang
Jacqueline Gasbarre
Linda Rosenbaum
Christine Lantain
Jacqueline Reid
Lindsay Paulsen
Cristina Gonzalez
Jane Karinki
Lindsay Wilson
Curtis Arthur
Janet Priston
Lisa Papineau
Cynthia Frasier
Jasmine Vallve
Liz Byrne
Daina Zweig
Jason Lawrence
Lovlyn Andawey
Dana Dumitriu
Jason Ramdeo
Lucilda Stephenson
Danielle Reynolds
Jason Ramdeo
Lucjana Beqo
Danielle Rosenblum
Jeff Mackie
Luxgaini Sritharan
Danqi (Lily) Li
Jenessa PalmerLuxsiga AmbigaiDarcie Hogan
Simms
bagan
David Rosenberg
Jenni Macko
Madeleine Dusseault
David Trieu
Jennifer Bernardo
Mahham Saeed
Derek Persaud
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Mame Awa Nguer
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Jing Xu
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Martina El-Kateb
Emma Kotzer
Martina Kosticka
Mary Owusu
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Sumita Majumder
Marzieh Sotoudehnama Rajeevkumar Selvakumar
Susan Aketch
Matthew Gut
Ramazan Kellezi
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Maxine Bond
Ray Yee
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Maxine Williamson
Rebecca Sellan
Tania Siddique
May Abu Jaber
Redon Prifti
Tanya Branitska
Megha Jandhyala
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Mel Gaulin
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Rhiannon McCluskey Teresa Gomes
Melanie Hardie
Rhonda Parto
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Terry Gitersos
Rosemary Namuyomba Tesfaye Kumsa
Michael Opatowski
Roslyn Maian
Michelle Hunte
Tharani Balachandran
Roxana Parsa
Michelle Wang
Tharshini Sri Raja
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Michelle Wexler
Therese Edwards
Ruby Kaur
Mihreteab Tinsheom
Thuluxan Karunananthan
Ryan Furlong
Miranda Schreiber
Thurukka Sivanantharajah
Monica Halab-Blaylock Ryan Samad
Thuy Huynh
Sabitra Paudel
Monica Iqbal
Tina Langdon
Sabri Bafakih
Monika Selimovic
Trudie Braham
Sabrina Jeria
Murtaza Hussain
Vahirda Arunan
Sabrina Soorty
Muska Jalalzai
Vantan Curie Fernando
Sagar Arora
Nadine Gilgeous
Vasuki Sivalingam
Saima Shaheed
Nagla Seif
Velma Richards
Sakina Khanam
Nancy Leach
Vikram Paul
Salah Mohamed
Nanjiba Kabir
Vivien Fellige
Samantha Li
Natasha Lashley
Wahida Wahida
Sammisoy Soy
Navneet Marwaha
Winnie Liao
Sandra Danial
Nazma Sharani
Xinyue Pu
Sandra Fleischer
YangYi Cao
Negin Vatandoost
Sandy Sullivan
Yasietha Krishnakulasingam
Negussia Desta
Sara Parry
Yasmine Abu-Ayyash
Nehal Siam
Sara Patterson
Yasmyne Hussain
Nerene Ford
Sarah El-Tohamy
Ying Dang
Neshevitha Siripathy
Sarah Topa
Yohana Solomon
Nestor Silveira
Sarmila Sivanesan
Zarmina Sharani
Nicholas Godfrey
Seema Matlib
Zarrah Belgian
Nicholas S. Huxter
Senayit Tekabo
Zheng (John) Wang
Nicole Brust
Shak Thevendran
Zoe Kavoukian-Schar
Nicole Formosa
Shakira Hakimzadah
Nicole Yiu
Shamayne Adams
Nishangan Paranthaman
Shanaz Khan
Noor Saadna Sheriffdeen
Shane McCartney
Noushin Shemaie
Shanthalojiny Umaharan
Omar Alwatban
Sharbano Rezai
Ophelia Xavier
Sharifa Jahan
Ormila Bhoopal
Silvana Baella-Cardenas
Parinaz Hissami
Silvia Shim
Patricia A. Proca
Sofia Wechsler
Paul Castrodale
Solomon Mengesha
Paul S. Barron
Sonia Sha
Pauline Akello
Stephanie Kingson
Plamen Notov
Sujatha Varghese
Prateek Sehgal
SuJung Lee
Precilla Aldaz
Suluxan Paramaguru
Prudence Mkhonta
Sumeet Farwaha
Puishan Man
Sumita Kesh
Puja Rai
53
CCVT Supporters
A Taste of Quebec
One King West Hotel
Abbott Pub
PIKTO
Art Gallery of Ontario
Research in Motion
Body Blitz
RKW Wine Imports
Corktown Designs
Rosedale Wellness Centre
Dell Canada
Segway Ontario
Elmwood Spa
SOMA Chocolatemaker
Fairmountbooks.com
Soulpepper Theatre
FLIP Publicity & Promotions Inc.
Sweet Birch Traditional Medicine
Fourth Pig
The Cranial Therapy Centre
Go Shani
The Rusty Fairmount Group
Gourmet Galaxy
Toronto Raptors
Green Zebra
True Source Seminars
Jazz.FM91
YMCA
Lululemon Athletica
Maple Lodge Farms
Mount Sinai Hospital
NOW Magazine
Special Thanks to Our Patrons
Sarah Polley
Olivia Chow
Jian Ghomeshi
Actress and Producer
Member of Parliament for
Toronto Riding of Trinity
Spadina
Broadcaster, Writer,
Musician and Producer.
Host of Q at CBC
54
Source of Funds:
Government and Foundations
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
 Settlement & Integration
Program
 Local Immigration Partnership
— LIP
Ministry of Citizenship and
Immigration
 Newcomer Settlement Program
(NSP)
Ontario Trillium Foundation
United Nations Voluntary Fund for
Torture Victims
United Way of Greater Toronto
City of Toronto
 Community Services Grant
Toronto District Board of Education
Donors - Organizations
Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA)
Amnesty International—Canadian Section (ES)
Campus Logix
Chantal Desloges Professional Corporation
ChumCity Christmas Wish
CultureLink Settlement Services of Metropolitan Toronto
East Alternative School
Emearal Foundation c/o Rochelle Rubinstein
Estate of Darya Eugenia Farha
George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation
Les Soeurs de Notre Dame d’Auvergne
Maple Lodge Farms
Murray Street
OASIS Women’s Centre
RBC Royal Bank
Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office of Toronto
Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre
Women’s Health in Women’s Hands
55
Former Award Recipients
The Amina Malko Award Recipients
Notisha Massaquoi
2012
The Trevor Bartram Award Recipients
Prof. Susan McGrath
2012
56
CCVT Programs
 Settlement Services: employment, housing,
language and skills training, social assistance,
applications for family reunification,
sponsorships, and orientations based on the client’s
needs are provided to assist in settlement.
Volunteers also facilitate the settlement process
by providing interpretation, escorting, befriending
and English tutoring.
 Mental Health: mutual support groups, crisis
intervention, individual and group therapy,
coordinated professional services, including legal,
medical and social care that provide treatment,
documentation and legal support. The use of group
therapy assists survivors in learning to cope with
the torture experience and transforms it into one that
is understood and dealt with.
 Volunteer Program: a Befriending Program that
assists survivors in rebuilding their connections to
others as well as to the greater community; an ESL
Tutoring Program to help students learn and
practice their English; and an Escorting and
Interpreting for survivors at different appointments
(medical, legal, social). More than 200 volunteers
assist in all programs of CCVT and hold monthly
meetings, usually with a guest speaker. A structured
orientation program prepares volunteer befrienders
to work with torture survivors within a context of
community understanding of global issues. The
“CCVT Newsletter” is sent to all volunteers each
month, which provides information on CCVT
events, volunteer opportunities and job postings. A
volunteer guide has also been prepared.
 Public Education: responds to numerous requests
 Children & Youth Program: individual and
family counseling, specialized settlement services
for children, crisis intervention, homework club,
support groups for children, youth and parents,
and recreational and empowerment activities that
incorporate conflict resolution, mentoring, peer
support and story-telling.
for information, assistance and consultations on
torture and the effects of torture as well as regularly
producing resource materials. CCVT’s semi-annual
publication “First Light”, is produced, which
discusses issues related to the CCVT's mandate and
ongoing work.
 International Projects: CCVT is associated with
 Language Instruction and Computer
Training: English as a Second Language
a coalition of centres which support victims of
organized violence, repression and torture, in exile
or in their own countries.
courses which are specifically designed to meet
the needs of survivors and include a strong life
skills component. Classes include all levels of
literacy: beginners, intermediate and advanced.
Computer courses in Microsoft Office and
Windows are provided at introductory and
intermediate levels.
57
Contact Us
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
Main Office:
194 Jarvis St., 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON
M5B 2B7
Tel: (416) 363-1066
Fax: (416) 363-2122
Scarborough Branch:
2425 Eglinton Ave. E., Unit
220
Scarborough, ON
M1K 5G8
Tel: (416) 750-3045
Fax: (416) 750-4990
CCVT at The HUB:
1527 Victoria Park, 2nd Floor
Scarborough, ON
M1L 2T3
Tel: (647) 847-2334
(647) 847-2335
(647) 847-2336
Fax: (416) 750-9200
Email: mabai@ccvt.org
Website: www.ccvt.org
58
“The CCVT gives hope
after the horror.”
59